High hopes for Lao

Pharex picked a little-known Filipino-born player from Canada in the recent PBL draft and the word is he could be the steal of the batch.

Anthony Lao, 25, was born here and moved to Canada when he was 12. The 6-4 forward played two years for Fraser Valley in the Canadian collegiate league, averaging 10.2 points in 2006-07 and 7.7 points in 2007-08.

What’s going for Lao isn’t just his credentials. He comes with solid backing from coach Laurian (Manuel) Watkins and former PBA cager Jon Ordonio.

Watkins said Lao is coming to play in the PBL “in a big way.” The goal is for Lao to strut his wares in the PBL then apply for the PBA draft in August.

“Anthony has amazing abilities and is a great all-around person,” said Watkins who used to provide imports for Pop Cola in the PBA when Elmer Yanga was team manager and Norman Black the head coach. “He was a force in the Canadian collegiate league.”

Ordonio works in Watkins’ sports management company as a scout and he, too, had glowing remarks on Lao.

“I know Anthony will take the PBL and the PBA by storm,” said Ordonio who is based in Monterey, northern California. “There is footage on him in the internet. I know his name will get out there but I’m looking for a team to take him in. I’ll also be looking to bring in imports and other Fil-Ams in the future. But right now, I’m concentrating on Anthony.”

Watkins said Ordonio is an asset to his company.

“Jon is really doing a great job,” said Watkins. “I needed someone to cover the Philippines so I thought an ex-PBA player would be perfect. I remember him from college days and I remember how he was when he came back from the Philippines and how things went down. I do know he loves this game and he loves the Philippines and he wanted to do something to give back and I felt he would be the best fit for our agency. We are FIBA-certified and we place players globally but could never forget about the Philippines. My family is from the Philippines, too. We have many other good talents we are preparing for the PBA and college levels so we are doing our best to educate them on the Filipino style of play, the Filipino culture and how to succeed in the Philippines which we consider to be extremely basketball-friendly. Jon is new in the business but he’s learning fast.”

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 Aside from working with Watkins, Ordonio is employed as a recreation specialist for outdoor field sports with the city of Monterey , a job he has held the last four years.

 “At the moment, we’re finishing up youth flag football,” said Ordonio who got married to his wife Taryn three years ago. “We have youth soccer, baseball, track and field and we also have adult softball and baseball programs. I’m in my fifth year of being the head assistant coach for boys varsity basketball at Carmel High School . One of our kids walked on at the University of Denver and is now playing on their team. Most of our kids get scholarships in football and baseball.”

Ordonio said he tries to keep in shape. “I lift weights, three days a week and I play four days a week,” he continued. “I’m in really good shape and I’m better than I ever was in the PBA. I made the ABA team out here a few months ago. I wanted to try out to see if other people noticed my game and they did. I was going to be the starting point guard but because of my job and their schedule, it couldn’t work out. The team is the Seaside SeaKings. So yes, I can still play. When I can, I play in various Fil-Am tournaments in the Bay Area every year.”

In his six-year PBA career, Ordonio averaged 3.4 points in 171 total games but said he could’ve done much better.

“Politics and I didn’t get along,” he said. “I remember, as a rookie in 1999, we played Alaska and I recorded the first triple double by a local since Gerry Esplana did it, I think back in 1995. That’s one stat I remember the most – 11 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. People can score 30 or 40 points but not too many people can say they have had a triple double. Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest players ever, only has 17 in his entire pro career. I can also remember, in 2001, when I was with Alaska, it was the second conference with our import Terrence Badgett. Rodney Santos was sick so I got to start. In the first four games I started, I averaged 12 points and six assists. I got to play more than 30 minutes and you can see how my game was.”

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Ordonio, 33, said he often wonders about making a comeback in the PBA.

“I play in leagues in the US against college kids and I’m often asked why I stopped playing,”

    he continued. “Or why I don’t go back to the PBA? I know I can still play. During an ABA scrimmage in May, I scored 22 points, handed out eight assists and grabbed six rebounds. I was also 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. I signed an offer sheet with the ABA in October but couldn’t play because of my city job. My work schedule and the ABA schedule just didn’t work out. I play better now than I did when I was in the PBA. I’m older and I see the game differently. I’m smarter. I think the thing that has changed me is that I’m more confident now. My game has stayed the same whether I’m being coached or not being coached.”

Ordonio said someday soon, he hopes to visit the Philippines and meet up with old friends.

“I’m looking to bring a player to the PBA,” he said. “I’ve gotten in touch with players and coaches. I was told that a player has to play 25 amateur games before he can be drafted. What I’m trying to do is to give back to the country that has helped me in many ways. I want to give kids the opportunity to play in their country, in college, the PBL or the PBA. I owe it to the Philippines because if not for Mr. Yanga, I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to play pro basketball.”

As for his mother Corazon, Ordonio said she’s fine. “Mom lives down the street from us,” he said. “My grandma passed away in 2002, my mom’s mom. My relatives and other cousins are still in Hawaii .”

Ordonio said his stepson, 13-year-old DeSean, is a legitimate Fil-Am and could mature to become a PBA player in the future. “DeSean’s great grandmother was a full-blooded Filipina who was born in 1922 in Cotabato,” he said. “I’m working on seeing if I can get the paperwork done for DeSean to become a dual citizen. DeSean definitely has Filipino blood. His grandmother is half American and half Filipino.”

From a player to agent, it looks like Ordonio has all the right moves. His life is back on track.